Should I print black and white images using the Color (RGB) mode or in the Advanced B&W Photo (ABW) mode?
Either is fine. Many users have found that they can print black and white images through the standard ICC color-managed workflow using RGB printer profiles and get excellent results. One of the primary reasons they often cite for using this method is to be able to soft proof the image (e.g., in Photoshop). However, in most cases I recommended using the ABW mode. Here’s why. • Blacks are deeper when printing with ABW, so the prints have greater dynamic range. For example, on Moab Kokopelli Studio Semi-Gloss (a PK paper), I can achieve a minimum L* = 4.4 (d-max = 2.3) in Color mode and a minimum L* = 3.2 (d-max = 2.45) in ABW mode. On Epson Velvet Fine Art (a MK paper), I can achieve a minimum L* = 15.5 (d-max = 1.68) in Color mode and a minimum L* = 13.8 (d-max = 1.77) in ABW mode. In both cases — especially the latter case — the differences are not just measurable but the results look visibly better with ABW. • The ABW driver produces a more perceptually linear response than the Colo
